Liam Payne death probe scours hotel computers and CCTV as his bodyguard assists Argentinian police in hunt for drug dealer after star’s tragic death
Police are scouring computers and CCTV at Liam Payne’s Buenos Aires hotel a week after the singer’s death, while his bodyguard helps police in the hunt for a drug dealer.
Officers acting on orders from prosecutor Andres Madrea, who met Payne’s father Geoff on Tuesday to inform him about the ongoing investigation into the tragedy, were seen going through documents and examining computers in the hotel lobby.
They are understood to have been trying to find out who sold the former One Direction singer the drugs he is believed to have consumed before he plunged from his third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel on Wednesday last week.
The popstar’s bodyguard Paul Higgins has been assisting police in reviewing security footage at the hotel, alongside Payne’s father Geoff.
Prosecutors said last week that they believed Payne was in ‘in a state of semi or total unconsciousness’ during a substance-induced ‘psychotic episode’ when he fell.
Liam Payne’s bodyguard Paul Higgins (pictured) has been assisting police in Argentina as they hunt for a drug dealer suspected to have supplied the singer with narcotics
Liam Payne fell to his death last week at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires
Liam Payne is pictured with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy at a premiere in London in March 2023
A police officer inside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday after Liam Payne’s death
A police officer exits the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday where Liam Payne died
He died of multiple trauma injuries which had caused ‘internal and external haemorrhaging.’ His 25 ‘life-threatening’ injuries are believed to have included a skull fracture.
Investigators have indicated they do not suspect any ‘third-party’ involvement but have made it clear the hunt is still on for his dealer amid speculation someone from his hotel was supplying him with narcotics.
Argentinian news portal Infobae reported earlier this week forensic experts had discovered traces of cocaine in Payne’s body but tests on the white powder had so far proved ‘inconclusive.’
Other unconfirmed reports originating in the US claimed a cocktail of drugs including designer narcotic pink cocaine containing MDMA, ketamine, methamphetamine had been found in his system during a partial autopsy along with crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.
The hotel raid involved Buenos Aires City Police belonging to a Special Investigations’ Division as well as a Technology Investigations Unit.
They spent most of their time in reception but officers are also understood to have gone up to the third-floor suite Payne was staying in.
The police investigation continues at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday
A police officer inside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday after Liam Payne’s death
Fans gather outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday where Liam Payne died
Argentinian TV reporter Guiliana Salguero said overnight: ‘We understand a person who was part of the hotel staff has been suspended after being linked to the supply of drugs to Liam Payne.
‘We’ll have to see how that now plays out. It is a person who worked in the hotel’s restaurant.’
There has not yet been any official comment from the hotel about the police operation and claims one of its staff is being investigated.
Payne’s father told prosecutors earlier this week he wants the truth to come out and is ready to ‘tell them everything he knows’ to aid the ongoing investigation.
He was told during his meeting with Mr Madrea that the full autopsy results have not been concluded and he will not be able to fly back to the UK with his son’s body until toxicology and tissue tests are complete.
Fans gather outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday where Liam Payne died
Flowers and other tributes outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday
Fans gather outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday where Liam Payne died
Confirming on Tuesday that Mr Payne has indicated his willingness to assist investigators help understand the circumstances surrounding Liam’s death, a public prosecution spokesman said: ‘During the meeting with Mr Madrea the musician’s father expressed his desire for an investigation and his wish to know what happened, and told the prosecutor that he was willing to testify about everything he knows about his son’s life that could help the probe.’
He added: ‘The representative of the public prosecutor’s office informed the father that the toxicological and histopathological studies complementary to the autopsy have not yet been completed, and that their results are necessary to decide on the release of the body.’
Officials also confirmed that as well as the ongoing forensic tests, investigators were still analysing ‘mobile phones, computers, photographs and CCTV footage’, saying: ‘They will require a longer period of analysis.’
Last week prosecutors confirmed they had interviewed three hotel workers and two women who had spent time with Payne before he died and were subsequently identified as prostitutes.
Flowers and other tributes outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday
Fans gather outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday where Liam Payne died
Flowers and other tributes outside the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires yesterday
They said on Tuesday that the work to piece together the singer’s last hours was continuing with ‘hotel workers, acquaintances, technical and medical professionals and other people linked to him through his work.’
Payne is known to have spent time with Argentinian businessman Rogelio Nores, who is understood to have given a statement to investigators.
The singer’s family have been reassured they will be the first to receive any new information that comes out, following the leaking of pictures from Payne’s hotel room last week that were published in Argentinian media and showed a white powder on a desk which is still being analysed.
Friends of the singer have claimed he was clean just days before the tragedy.
Sources close to him said he entered Argentina on September 30 and was forced to extend his stay there due to issues renewing his expiring American visa.
He arrived with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy but she left Buenos Aires to return to the States shortly before Payne died.
The 25-year-old American revealed yesterday that he gave her a note before he died revealing his plans to marry her.
